Kruse facility sold to group including Stutzman

Journal GazetteJanuary 10, 2019

A northeast Indiana investment group has bought the Kruse property, often referenced as the World War II Museum, from the Dean V. Kruse Foundation.

The owners and directors of the group include entrepreneur and local Auburn resident John Kruse, former U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman, and Jason Bontrager, entrepreneur and former managing partner of RV giant Jayco Inc., according to a news release Wednesday.

“Our goal is to build on the Kruse legacy of promoting northeast Indiana by being a community-centric event and education hub of activity,” John Kruse said in a news release Wednesday.

The facility was originally built by Dean Kruse as a World War II Museum and an automotive museum, which opened to the public in 2002.

Upgrades and improvements are in process, but the facility is open for event and conference business, Stutzman said.